What does it mean to be "Canadian"? How do we define ourselves? How do others see us? What does being Canadian mean to you? You may want to unpack some of the stereotypes that are commonly applied to Canada. Your post should be NO more than 100 words.
In my opinion, being a Canadian citizen doesn't mean: "Oh, beavers, maple syrup!" despite the fact that this is how others, and even we, define ourselves. Every country needs to have unity to be called a country. In our country, this unity is strengthened by the multiculturalism that is all around us. Being a Canadian citizen symbolizes unity, tolerance, and appreciation of our diverse backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteCanada is a multicultural country. We are not just one "type" of people, instead, we are cultures and races all mixed together. I like to define ourselves as peacekeepers, instead of "hockey players.. caribous.." As Canadians, we have rights and freedoms in which Canada grants us. But everyone of us is needed in order to maintain a safe and fair community for all of us.
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian, we have soooo many things to be thankful for. We are a nation of free people, We have fresh clean water, good food... well maybe not all good (food inc. movie referance there) but I digress. But the big thing is, every Canadian is unique. we all have different backgrounds and a different way of doing things. We are like a land of immigrants. immigrants unite! so when we see conflict in other places, our heart hurts. so we keep the peace too. think of that disney movie, Lion King "We are One"
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me Canadian? I was born here. We seem to be defined as a nation of peacekeepers, friendly people who apologize when it isn't our fault.
ReplyDeleteOther countries tend to view us in high regard. We trade, we believe in equality, and best of all, we have no large army armed to the teeth with super weapons. Canada is no threat.
What does being Canadian mean to me? It means I can live my life the way I want. It means I get to have an education and drink clean water. It means I've been given a gift, and I don't intend to squander it.
Yes, Canada has stereo types, like we ALL live in igloos, the most common animal to see is beavers or moose, we have maple syrup, and that Canadians are very polite. Some of that may be true, like us being polite, and we do have maple syrup, but really I don’t know where people get the idea we ALL live in igloos and we all see beavers; because I’ve never seen one in real life before. But I think as Canadians, we define ourselves as polite, multicultural, super hockey fans and peacful.
ReplyDeleteCanada is a multicultural country that thrives on the diversity. We defines ourselves as kind, welcoming, grateful, and peaceful people. Others may think that we ski to school, live in igloos, and say eh and the end of every sentence but we are more than that. We are proud Canadians that love the freedom we have and rights as citizens. Being Canadian to me means that we have the rights that a citizen deserves and freedom that other countries lack.
ReplyDeleteCanada is a diverse country. We all have our differences in cultures and values and we are proud of that, because that is what makes Canada Canada. But as I learned more about the Canadian history, and how the Europeans settled their colonies and just infiltrated what we now call "Canada" from the Aboriginals, it makes me wonder if what they did was right. Were those cruel actions worth taking for the sake of this multicultural country we live in today?
ReplyDeleteNo, we Canadians don't live in igloos. =D
As a Canadian we usually define ourseleves as an accepting country and peacekeepers. Others see us as people who live in igloos, do fur trades.Being a Canadian means that I am able to have freedom and rights, and a good education.
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ReplyDeleteTo me, being Canadian is to be free. To be honest, our country is so accepting of others, no matter where they came from, or their sexuality, or their hobbies. We prove that in the ammount of immigrants in our country. So to me, Candians are truly a free people, at least for the most part.
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian means being loyal. We are loyal to our country and to our morals. We try to keep our country a safe and interesting place to live and for other people to visit. We are respectful and tolerant of people with different values, opinions and ways of life, since we are all so unique. Other countries may make fun of us, saying we are too polite, but I believe that this is us just us being loyal to who we are as a country.
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian is to have the freedom to be who you are. Our country is really multicultural and is accepting of everyone no matter their race, sexuality or background. Everyone in Canada is equal and the mixture of the different cultures is what defines Canada.
ReplyDeleteTo me, being Canadian means to be strong and faithful in what you believe. It allows you to have the strength and freedom to believe in what you want to do and how to complete and finish it.
ReplyDeleteWe define ourselves by who we are, inside and out, and we shouldn't let anybody tell us who we should be.
Others see us as people who live in igloos, having maple syrup everyday... they shouldn't stereotype us just because of what they hear.
Being Canadian means (to me) to be who we are, and to never change; to be strong and faithful in what we believe in, and to be free to make our choices for ourselves :)
Non-Canadians would often refer to us as the ones that live in igloos and ride polar bears to school. As much fun as that would be, that’s not what being a Canadian is about. To be Canadian means to be free, to be accepting, and to be tolerant to those around us no matter what their background may be. We accept the difference between ourselves which is what makes our country a unique place to be. So no, we don’t ride polar bears to school, and no we don’t live in igloos, but instead we live as a country that is united as one.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I do not define myself as a Canadian. I was not born here, I have no family background related to Canada, and I don't even technically have permanent residency in Canada. I still am (and always shall be) proudly South African.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal opinion, being a human 'should' already imply freedom of thought, speech and expression. However, not every country's set of principles and its population is as forgiving and open as others. Though not without its flaws and still with much intolerance (though not as vocal or obvious as other nations), being part of the Canadian community generally means being tolerant and having relativistic freedom. Indeed, this country does not only consist of hockey hooligans that only speak French, live in igloos and apply maple syrup to any variety of edibles. There is much more to it, as there is with any country and its stereotypes.
Lots of people have different stereotypes about Canadians and in some parts of this country, it may be true but Canadians are much more. We help others in need, are kind to one another and embrace our differences. Learning about other cultures and trying different foods are some of the great things about being multicultural. When someone asks where I’m from I am proud to say I’m Canadian. Although we may say the occasional eh or get crazy about hockey, we are all Canadians.
ReplyDeleteCanadians are known for loving hockey and maple syrup, but there are probably many Canadians that have no interest in hockey and don't like syrup.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the quote, “Canada is the only country in the world that knows how to live without an identity.” A Canadian is probably someone that drinks Brazilian coffee, eats Italian pizza, has French desserts, has Danish furniture, writes with a pen from China and listens to American singers. Many people in Canada don’t define themselves as Canadian; rather they define themselves as Asian, African, etc.
Canadians are a proud people, and of course, we have every reason to be. Our nation’s reputation is held in the highest regards amongst the world. Yes, we have people asking “how’s the bacon/maple syrup down there?”, or commenting on how we apparently always say “ay”, or complaining about the cold. We’re also the birthplace of hockey and one of the most naturally beautiful places on the Earth. Although all of that’s true (some to an extent), we are MORE. Our country is RESPECTED. It’s in our nature to be polite and tolerant of other perspectives. We are so friendly and approachable that people of all different ethnics come to live here because we don’t judge, we have freedom, we have rights, and we’re all considered equals. That’s why we’re unique and special. We love peace and are kind. Isn’t that why we sent soldiers down to Afghanistan? We are a united people. I love Canada :)
ReplyDeleteTo be Canadian... its a tough identity. This is because Canada is such a multicultural community. Many can be born and brought up here, and others may have just moved here, but the freedom that these two individuals share are equal. From Hockey as the national pass time and to hot summer days jumping in the lake one can say he or she is able to share the red and white colors. I guess to be canadian is to have freedom and share it with a diverse community.
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ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Canadians don’t need to be of the same race and have the same religion and culture. Canadians can be people born in Canada and immigrants from different countries. However, due to the difference in race and cultures, many people criticize and separate themselves from people of other nations. People judge each other by their appearance and what they do. I believe that anybody can become a Canadian when they choose to live in Canada in search of appreciation, tolerance, and freedom.
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian is to be multicultural and to be understanding of every race and culture. Canada is a country that is built from immigrants from all around the world and we take pride in that. The world sees us as a peace keeping country. You can really experience when you're living in a Canadian city where every individual is treated fairly and equally. I love being Canadian.
ReplyDeleteBeing a Canadian is to be proud of Canada, and how we came to be. Now what do we have to be proud of? I think being a Canadian means you are the tolerant and open person, just like Canada, the multicultural country she is. People may see us as just being a country on top of U.S., but we are a lot more than that, sure we have our similarities but the way we came to be and the way we are now differs a lot. We are united under a different lifestyle, under a different flag and we should be proud of that.
ReplyDeleteThough the rest of the world seems to view us as some sort of a joke, to be a Canadian is to understand the importance of racial and religious tolerance. We Canadians also believe that it is our duty to encourage negotiations between groups in other countries during tense situations to preserve peace and to prevent bloodshed or genocide.
ReplyDeleteI think that being Canadian gives us lots of privilages, but some responsibility, too. Canadians are polite and welcoming, which is certainly a great privilage, but it also means that we have to make sure that we are those things, not just everyone else. Being Canadian also means being loyal. Even though Canadians don’t hang flags off of every house or sing the national anthem every day doesn’t mean we aren’t loyal to our country. Most of Canada’s stereotypes aren’t true, but I think the ones that are true are the best, like being polite and multi-cultural.
ReplyDeleteThere are a vast amount of things that I believe defines Canadians as a country, but here is what is most important to me about being a Canadian.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Canada defines itself as being a free and peaceful country. It strives to be a country that accepts all people, not judging them on their race, gender, or religion, and gives everyone the same rights and freedoms that everyone deserves. Canada gives everyone the freedom to speak his or her own mind and opinions. It gives people the ability to make their own choices, and offers an abundance of opportunities, allowing people to shape their own futures the way they want to.
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ReplyDeleteBeing a Canadian literally means being born in Canada obviously, but I'd also say it means to have freedom and many opportunities than other countries do not allow. I would say others as well as ourselves define us from our hocky. We're proud of our beautiful country but still feel in the shadow of the US, second best to them. As for stereotypes, of course we live in igloos, and ride our polar bears to school, duh!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, being Canadian means freedom and rights. As Canadians, we have the rights to choose what we want in life, and enjoy what we do. I'd define us Canadians as healthy, excepting, fun and loving people. We appreciate different races and their cultures. I think others see us as friendly and welcoming people. Some people, however, probably think we all love syrup, play hockey, or say "eh" after every sentence. Not everyone is the same in this country, our country is very multicultural and everyone is unique.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, being a Canadian means a lot though I wasn't born as one. Being a Canadian means I am a free person one who can make different kinds of decisions in life,vote later on in my life for elections and it grants me the freedom of speech. Canada lets me meet a lot of new people from all over the world and living here is the best thing that can happen to me. Eventhough people say we ride on polar bears as transportation which we don't.：）
ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe that just because you're Canadian, doesn't mean that you should look, act or be any different. We are a free counrty, a country to define yourself. Where you can speak your mind, and you can be whoever you want to be. Of course there are steretypes, there always will be. But we are a peaceful, open-minded, and strong country. I think every Canadian should be proud to say that they're a Canadian, I know I am.
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian is something to be proud of. Being Canadian means having freedom. We are tolerant of others. It doesn't matter what ethnic group you are, what your sexuality is, or what your religious beliefs are, because Canada will be willing to accept you. People from all around the globe immigrate to Canada because it's things like freedom that make Canada so appealing.
ReplyDeleteTo be Canadian is to be accepting of others' beliefs, traditions, and way of life. Technically, most of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants (unless you're an aboriginal native). Ergo, being Canadian is also being multicultural. But our country's history is stained. I believe that Canadians should remember the struggles of those who were forced off their land and those who built this beautiful country that we call ours.
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ReplyDeletemy name is brian
this is my homework
To be Canadian is to be a proud Canadian citizen, to support our hardworking government, to believe in our laws, and to appreciate the splendor of our country. To me, Canada is a place of acceptance, the diverse population suggests to our community that racial tolerance is both necessary and healthy to have. Canada is fair and peaceful, that I believe other countries should envy.
Being Canadian means our national sport is hockey, and the beaver is a national animal. We also live in igloos and eat a lot more maple syrup than we're supposed to. However, I also know that we mean a lot more than that. We are a country full of peacekeepers. Being Canadian means we are diverse, peaceful, accepting, and sometimes a little too polite. :D But one thing’s for sure, we are all proud to be Canadian!
ReplyDeleteLike many of the comments above say, Canada is a multicultural country. We are much more open to others than many other countries and are known to be a peaceful people. Really, Canadians are who they want to be; we have freedom, a voice. We are a strong people based on peace and we're usually quite open-minded. Especially with stereotypes like riding polar bears and living in igloos! Yet here we are, making fun of ourselves! Canada is a unique country in the multiculturalism, the kind people, and our pride as a country together.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the line between being a proud Canadian and an arrogant Canadian is sometimes blurred. Sure, we Canadians are courteous people but it doesn’t help our case to boast about it to everyone else. Instead of looking at other countries with a pessimistic mind set, we should appreciate and respect other’s decisions. Being Canadian is to be a proud, peaceful and accepting person who takes grasp of the unlimited potential that Canada offers us.
ReplyDeleteThere are many things that make Canadians who they are. One thing that stands out is how much individual freedoms are respected in this country. For example, the freedom of religion allows Canadians to have their own personal beliefs and not be discriminated against because of it. Being a multicultural country we are more open minded towards new ideas and differences that others may have. The rights we have in Canada are privileges only dreamed of by citizens in countries that are wracked with civil war and corrupt government.
ReplyDeleteWe are a country of multiculturalism and a unique quality. Having certain rights as a citizen (such as rights of freedom, speech, religion, education, choice, vote etc) we respect others and accept their differences as to ones we have. We love peace and bring a nice bucket of common courtesy everywhere we go, the person who ends arguments, rather than start them. We are all diverse, but one thing we all share is being a part of what makes the country open, respected and understanding. We all stand under the white and red flag, and we are free to express ourselves and our opinion. We are Canadian. True peace, pride and love.
ReplyDelete-Annie Chang
To be called a canadian, is to be called free and strong. Our country, from east to west have a vast variety of people and culture but we all have one thing on common, we all love the land we live together on. I hope to think, and do think that Canadians are viewed upon as kind and fair people of the world. Our land is so diverse and beautiful, and I believe that its an honor to behold the trust of being a Canadian. We are stereotyped as living on igloos and riding our polarbears to school, but Canada and it's people have so much to offer to the world it's hard to accurately stereotype all of us!
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian does not just mean maple syrup, hockey and polar bears. It means being able to tolerate and be around people of all different races and cultures. It means being able to tolerate people and hear them out before judging them. Being a Canadian also means that you have freedom and rights. Being Canadian means that instead of making fun or judging people by how they look or act, we accept their way of living. To me, being Canadian means being able to go out into the streets and not having to worry about being treated different based on my lifestyle, my race, or my religion. That is what being a Canadian is.
ReplyDeleteTo me, being a Canadian is ignoring what others think of us because we are truly a great nation, no matter what others say about us. Yeah maybe some of the character traits other countries gives us are true, we do live in a cold climate and we do love our hockey, but its not something we should be ashamed of but instead something to be proud of. We live in an amazing multicultural society where no matter your sex, ethnicity, religion or personal preference you will always be accepted. So just remember the next time you are judged based on being Canadian, don't take it as an insult because being a Canadian is great and the number of people wishing they could live in a country as free as Canada is too high to count.
ReplyDeleteBeing Canadian means we are polite, say 'eh', love maple syrup, live in igloos, and ride polar bears. I have have rights and freedoms many other countries don't. I have the right to clean water, and education, to a fair trial and i can practice any religion. Also I have a responsibility to obey the laws, and vote. We are supposed to speak English and French. We have a government based on democracy, with a prime minister. You can be born a Canadian or can become one. And we are really great at hockey.
ReplyDeleteCanada has alot of stereotypes we 'ride bears' to school we 'lve' in igloos and we say 'eh' and we are a really polite people. Yes Canadians do say eh but not EVERYONE in Canada is polite, depends where you grew up. Stereotyping is an odd thing, it makes you feel like living up to it (whether subconciouse or not) because if people find it cool you want to impress on them. So it's hard to say what makes us Canadian, is it our pr
ReplyDelete(sorry, accidently hit comment on my iPod -.-) pride* in our country or our acceptance of other countries or is it our willingness to explore other cultures as well and enjoy them, is it how we jump to help other people? Being Canadian is very complex and not easy to answer
ReplyDeleteBeing a Canadian means that you have a Canadian passport or citizenship. Which means you have the rights to use your freedom; to vote, to speak, to think, to learn... Other people may see us eating maple syrup all the time and maybe they try to be Canadian by eating maple syrup all the time because that is what they think we do. Freedom and peace is what Canada is all about.
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ReplyDeleteBeing a Canadian to me means a mixture of cultures. We are not only a people that say "Eh!" slurping up syrup. We don't all ride from our igloos on a moose with our pet beaver to Tim Hortons. We have a very diversed culture. Other countries see us as a strong free nation.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me Canadian? My Family, my blood, the way I live my life, the laws I live by, the people who surround me and more. Im not Canadian because I live in Canada. I dont make myself Canadian, my ancestors do. The ones that came here, who birthed and created this amazing country. Im so blessed to live in this country, a country that helps set the pace of the world. A country that billions of people look up too.
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ReplyDeleteTo me, being a Canadian means being welcoming and accepting! We don't care who you are or where you come from, we just want you to have a safe place to call home. We are multicultural so everyone fits in! We don't discriminate others, instead we all blend and share new ideas and knowledge from our culture to become stronger and independent. We are kind of like a small sample of the world! Others may think we are crazy, but we don't care because we know who we are and what we are doing - and it seems to be working for us. Welcome to Canada - a peaceful and free country for everyone to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat it means to be Canadian is not only to live here but to be an active member of society. This means practising your right to vote and freedom of speech. We define ourselves based on what we see from each other, mainly great kindness, justice, and progressiveness. These qualities may be lost on people, but I think now the world is starting to understand that Canada is more than igloo carving hockey players. To me Canada is quickly becoming a world leader in areas from human rights to robotics and I'd like to be part of that change.
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